Being a woman after God's own heart

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trees planted by the water

After spending a few frozen days cooped up in our house, I ventured out into the snow-covered world courtesy of my husband and his faithful four-wheel drive vehicle. As he was navigating the hilly country roads, I was marveling at the beauty of the ice-laden landscapes. Everywhere I looked, trees were topped with thick layers of ice and snow. Even with only the filmy winter sun’s appearance, they were dazzling.

After a coating of ice had fallen, multiple inches of wet snow piled on top. Many of the trees’ limbs were bent low to the ground under the increased weight. Other trees had succumbed to the added stress and were surrounded with broken branches at their base, their limbs unable to sustain the storm without injury.

Life is like that sometimes. It comes with storms so harsh and cold that it threatens to shatter me into pieces on the cold, hard ground. Buried beneath the weight of my circumstances, I am overwhelmed. Disappointment, disillusion and heartache pelt against me, piling their heavy load upon my branches. How can I sustain such a storm? How do I bend, not break?

The answer for me lies in the scriptures. Psalm 1: 3 tells me that blessed is the one who meditates on the Word. “He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” In every season I must be connected to the Word. My roots growing deep into its rich soil, fueling my spirit so that it remains tender and pliable.

The book of Psalms is just one of the treasure troves of God’s promises. Promises written to me that feed my faith. They tell of God’s unfailing love and protection. Reminding me that God is an ever-present help in time of trouble delivering me from all my fears. So that whether it’s the blizzard’s blinding breath or the sun’s scorching rays, I can stand tall with supple branches, roots growing deep, drawing my life from the promises of God.